2023 Annual Report Strategic Priorities

Pledging 33,000 new housing approvals

Like the rest of Canada, Oakville is not immune to the housing crisis. In March 2023, Town Council unanimously pledged to accommodate the approval of 33,000 new housing units the provincial government has mandated to our community by 2031–2032. The pledge also highlights 18 provincial actions required to help Oakville to achieve that target — including funding and capital projects — recognizing that the town doesn’t have the resources to cover the full costs of this growth on its own.

Creating a robust housing strategy

Oakville’s draft Housing Strategy and Action Plan aims to support the town’s housing needs. Presented to Council in July 2023, it outlines nearly 70 actions to improve Oakville’s housing landscape. One of the key objectives is enabling a greater diversity of housing types and sizes, adding more apartments, rental units and other options to complement the detached and semi-detached homes that currently make up nearly two-thirds of Oakville’s housing.

Other objectives include increasing the number of homes built, streamlining approvals, collaborating with partners and developing complete communities with all the services people need. In October, residents had an opportunity to provide input on the draft strategy and action plan through a public open house and an online survey.

Strengthening rental housing supply 

Oakville’s Official Plan identifies rental housing as a priority. To help preserve the existing supply and strengthen tenant protection, Town Council approved a Rental Housing Protection By-law and Demolition Control By-law (pdf) in July 2023. Now, developers must fulfill several conditions before they can demolish or convert a building containing six or more residential rental units.

Attracting investments

For the fifth year in a row, Oakville has been named one of the best locations to invest in Canada by Site Selection Magazine by making the top 20 list compiled by this international business publication. Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company of Canada announced their plans to invest $1.8 billion to transform the Oakville Assembly Plant into a state-of-the-art facility where they will assemble next-generation electric vehicles. In April 2024, Ford retimed the launch of upcoming EVs at the Oakville plant to 2027.

Supporting our business community

In 2023, we brought back our popular seasonal patio program, adding vibrancy to Oakville’s commercial districts by allowing outdoor patios, bistros and merchandising on public and private lands from May to November. To support businesses still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the town waived permit fees. 

We also made it easier to find funding, thanks to our partnership with Fundica. Businesses can now use the organization’s AI-powered platform — available free of charge on the Invest Oakville website — to navigate government grants, business accelerators and venture capital funds.  

Reimagining Midtown

Plans are underway to transform Midtown Oakville, a 103-hectare area located around the Oakville GO station, into a livable, connected, and mixed-use urban community that serves its residents and the entire town. Town Council set up a Special Committee to review all feedback and delve into more analysis before finalizing the policies. 

Throughout the fall, we invited residents and businesses to provide their input on different neighbourhood concepts through an online survey, in-person information sessions and community workshops. That feedback will now be incorporated into an amendment to Oakville’s Official Plan to accommodate Midtown development. 

Creating future-ready infrastructure

To ensure Oakville has appropriate services and infrastructure for its growing population, we’ve been reviewing and updating key plans. 

In 2023, that included inviting public input on the following initiatives: 

• a Parks and Open Space Strategy that resulted in the town’s Parks Plan 2031 (pdf), which informs how the town will undertake its parks planning and acquire lands for new parks
• a new Transportation Master Plan to promote a sustainable, accessible and connected transportation system for pedestrians, cyclists, transit-users and drivers and to support planned growth and complete communities (anticipated completion is end of 2024)
• a new Fire Master Plan (approved in 2024) to guide the next decade of fire services 
• a new Parks, Recreation and Library Master Plan to ensure these spaces continue evolving to meet the needs and wants of our community
• a North Oakville East Commercial Study to improve ease of access to retail and commercial services in the northeast part of Oakville

Funding the restoration of designated properties

Oakville continues to be a leader in preserving its municipal character, thanks in part to our Heritage Grant Program. In 2023, Town Council approved nearly $138,000 in funding for 47 restoration projects on private properties designated under Ontario’s Heritage Act. 

Designating more properties and updating heritage district plans

At the end of 2023, Oakville’s Municipal Heritage Register included almost 300 properties that aren’t designated but have cultural value. Because recent legislative changes under Ontario’s Bill 23 require us to remove these from the Register by 2025, we’re evaluating the merits of designating approximately 80 properties to conserve Oakville’s cultural heritage. 

We’re also completing an update to the Old Oakville Heritage Conservation District Plan, which covers the area of Old Oakville extending south of Robinson Street to the lakefront and from the Sixteen Mile Creek to Allan Street.

Commemorating Black heritage with Burnet Park art installation

The town hired the Studio of Contemporary Architecture to design an art installation at Burnet Park. The artwork will incorporate lake stone salvaged from the foundation walls of a former heritage property at 104 Burnet Street. For more than 100 years, this property belonged to the Adams family, who were prominent members of Oakville’s Black community. Although the home was demolished in 2017 due to fire damage, the salvaged elements will commemorate the legacy and contributions of the Adams family. Installation is anticipated to be completed in summer 2025.

Funding initiatives that strengthen community bonds

As part of the 2023 Budget, Town Council approved $35,000 annually for a new Community Activation Grant. Officially launched in December 2023, the program provides up to $750 to local non-profits, community organizations, residents and informal groups for small-scale initiatives like workshops and neighbourhood block parties that enhance a sense of belonging. 

Providing free menstrual products at town facilities

In 2023, two Halton youth urged the Town of Oakville Budget Committee to include free menstrual products in public washrooms, noting that 66 per cent of women 25 and under struggle to afford them. In response, Town Council approved $20,000 for the “Pink Project,” making free period products available at Town Hall, community centres, arenas, pools and public libraries.

Improving food security with Food for Life pilot program  

In partnership with Food for Life and Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, the town hosted a pilot pop-up food bank at Town Hall on Wednesdays from June to December 2023, and the program continues into 2024. The pilot served 60 families, distributing an average of 924 lbs of food — including produce, meat and dairy — each week. The program increased food security for attendees by 33 per cent, saving them an average of $50.60 on their weekly food spending.  

Updating rainbow crosswalk

Based on public input and the community’s desire for the Progressive Pride flag, the town updated the rainbow crosswalk at Kerr Street and Lakeshore Road. Along with the common six-stripe rainbow design, the new flag includes a chevron design with black, brown, light blue, pink, and white stripes to represent marginalized people of colour, trans people, those living with HIV/AIDS and those who have been lost.

Celebrating Oakville’s arts, culture, and creativity

Oakville’s 2023 Culture Days ranked number one among the mid-sized cities participating in this national celebration of arts and culture — the second year in a row we earned this honour — and top overall. Our slate of nearly 100 events from September 22 to October 15 included hands-on woodcarver workshops, improv theatre, musical performances, family yoga sessions and museum tours.

Fostering togetherness at community events

With a fun-filled calendar, Oakville’s community spirit was on full display in 2023. Residents enjoyed Family Day activities at River Oaks Community Centre, Canada Day fireworks at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park, Movies in the Park and Oakville Fire’s Sparky’s Dog Days of Summer. The Oakville Museum got kids into the Halloween spirit with family-friendly activities. St. Nick and friends returned for the 75th edition of the Oakville Santa Claus Parade. And the Holiday Lights by the Lake illuminations at Coronation Park spread joy at the annual drive-thru toy drive. Meanwhile, members of Council supported celebrations for Asian Heritage Month, Lunar New Year, Holiday Tree Lighting, Santa’s landing and more. 

Recognizing community champions

In June 2023, the 21st Community Spirit Awards celebrated individuals, organizations, businesses and community groups who are making a difference in Oakville through volunteer efforts or acts of kindness. Following a refresh of the program, the annual recognition program featured a slate of new award categories, including the Arts, Culture & Heritage Award; Climate Action Award; Good Neighbour Award; Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Award; Inspiration Award; and Leadership & Innovation Award.

Enhancing sports tourism 

In 2023 Oakville hosted Curling Canada’s PointsBet Invitational and the selection camp and exhibition games for Hockey Canada’s National World Junior Team, generating more than $15 million in local economic benefits. We also secured 2024 hosting rights for the Skate Canada Challenge and Hockey Canada’s Centennial Cup. Collectively, these events offer a front-row view of international-level sports, create volunteer opportunities and showcase Oakville to a national audience. 

Building inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility into Oakville’s DNA

In December 2023, staff presented a draft of Oakville’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Multi-Year Plan. The plan reflects years of work and consultation with the community and CCDI, a leader in diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It features more than 40 recommended actions — covering everything from advancing Truth and Reconciliation and improving hiring practices to reviewing policies about how we name our streets. 

Celebrating Black communities

In 2023, Black History Month celebrations held in February included musical performances, educational banners at recreation and cultural centres, a Black history exhibit at the Oakville Museum, and family-friendly arts, crafts and storytelling activities. Meanwhile, residents gathered on August 5 for the Emancipation Day Picnic, an annual celebration in Oakville that dates back to 1850. In 2023, we co-hosted the event with the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton at the grounds of the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate.

Advancing Truth and Reconciliation 

In recognition of National Indigenous History Month in June 2023, residents were encouraged to participate in a range of activities, from fireside storytelling with an Indigenous Elder to walks along our two Moccasin Trails, exploring local history from an Indigenous perspective. In September, Oakville marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day with opportunities to learn about Canada’s residential school system and commemorate survivors. Events included a free performance at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts and an opportunity to contribute to the Sweet Grass Roots Collective Mural Project at the Glen Abbey Community Centre.

Offering public art residency program for BIPOC communities 

The town partnered with STEPS Public Art to feature an emerging Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) artist at the October 2023 Ontario Culture Days Festival. Ning Yang was awarded the CreateSpace Public Art Residency, providing her with a $10,000 honorarium; an opportunity to hone her skills through workshops, artist talks, and studio visits; and access to studio spaces to create a 2D mural for River Oaks Community Centre.

Inspiring a fulfilling career in fire services  

Blaze Fire Academy, a joint initiative of the fire departments in Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Halton Hills, held two camps in 2023 with 24 participants in each, to encourage career-transitioning adults and young women to join the fire service. These immersive sessions provided a comprehensive understanding of firefighting, fire prevention, public education, training, dispatch communications, and administration.  

In 2023, participation in seasonal and drop-in programs continued to grow, with more than 53,000 registrations for seasonal programs and more than 675,000 registrations for drop-in programs. Approximately 25 per cent of Oakville residents participated in Recreation and Culture programs in 2023. In addition, over 104,000 hours of facility use was booked in 2023, including arenas, pools, gymnasiums, sport fields and multi-purpose spaces.  

We’re also expanding recreational opportunities with several new initiatives: 

• In February, we launched the Deep Roots: Basketball Leadership Program for BIPOC youth, offered in partnership with Halton Black Voices and the YMCA of Oakville
• In September, a new 300-square-metre skateboard park featuring a cast-in-place concrete bowl with islands and waves opened at the Cornwall Road Sports Park
• Work got underway on a world-class cricket pitch at the new Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, opening in spring 2024 
• Renovations at Wedgewood Pool are making the facility more accessible. Upgrades include adding ramps to the two outdoor showers and installing a portable pool lift, thanks in part to funding from the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund. 
• The Wallace Park redevelopment project is currently underway to enhance the park's amenities and provide a versatile space for community activities year-round. The project includes a winter refrigerated ice rink that doubles as a summer basketball court; a new washroom building; illuminated and paved pathways; and extensive landscape improvements.  

Unveiling Oakville’s first electric buses

Oakville’s first batch of zero-emission battery-electric specialized buses arrived in February 2023, funded with support from federal and provincial partners through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. 

These new vehicles replaced existing buses that run on diesel: one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Oakville. Over the next five years, we aim to convert approximately 50 per cent of Oakville Transit’s fleet to electric, and we’ve already installed 12 charging stations at Oakville Transit’s operations facility to support that transition.

Providing free public transit free to youth and seniors

As of May 1, 2023, youth and seniors can ride Oakville Transit for free — a permanent service that applies to all routes and services, seven days a week. As a result, we saw a big jump in transit ridership, with roughly 700,000 additional boardings over the course of the year. By making it easy for more people to choose transit, we’re promoting both sustainability and equity and contributing to a vibrant and livable Oakville. 

Upgrading the Oakville Crosstown Trail

In 2023, the Crosstown Trail got a major boost. A federal investment of more than $1 million is funding improvements to the trail, which runs along the natural gas pipeline between Upper Middle Road and Dundas Street, from Bronte Creek Provincial Park to Ninth Line.

The upgrades include widening and paving a four-kilometre section from Khalsa Gate to Sixteen Mile Creek; installing pedestrian crossings at all roadway crossings to ensure better safety; and providing rest areas with accessible benches and bike racks. Construction will begin in 2024 and is scheduled to be complete in spring 2025.

Revitalizing and expanding greenspaces

Oakville’s 2023 Budget included significant investments in greenspaces. Council earmarked $6.7 million for the renewal and rehabilitation of Oakville’s existing 200+ parks and nearly 250 kilometres of trails. They also allocated $6.4 million to develop new neighbourhood parks, parkettes and trails.

The town continues to advocate to the province for assistance in acquiring parkland to keep up with growth. We’re also asking the province to convey the Parkway lands and provincial lands within the Greenbelt to the town at nominal cost to enhance our parkland and open space. 

Preserving the town’s tree canopy

Oakville’s trees and woodlands are an integral aspect of the town’s urban landscape. In 2023, the town planted more than 35,700 trees. This brings Oakville’s overall tree coverage to nearly 32 per cent — roughly 44,400 square metres — and we’re working towards a goal of 40 per cent tree canopy by 2057. Every tree planted helps build a more sustainable future, address climate change impacts and preserve the natural beauty of Oakville for years to come. 

Attending the UN COP28 Climate Change Conference 

In December 2023, Mayor Burton and two senior staffers represented the town at COP28 in Dubai. It was an opportunity for Oakville to showcase how we’re responding to the climate change emergency we declared in 2019. It was also a chance to learn from others and identify ways to accelerate further climate action. 

At the conference, Mayor Burton took part in the inaugural Local Climate Action Summit, discussing the critical role local leaders play. He also was the first mayor to sign up for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund, which provides funding and technical assistance to help youth design, produce and govern climate solutions.

Ensuring climate-related transparency

Climate change poses risks to Oakville’s infrastructure. To ensure transparency around those risks, the town began work in 2022 to align with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework and incorporate climate considerations into decision-making and best practices. In 2023 we focused on advancing our alignment with the six recommendations under the governance pillar of the framework.

Adapting our stormwater infrastructure for the future

The town continues to make progress on the Rainwater Management Financial Plan, a sustainable funding model dedicated to protecting our stormwater infrastructure and natural assets and building resiliency against climate change impacts. In 2023, we completed a review of earlier stormwater studies and assessments and prioritized infrastructure projects based on risk and service level objectives. This 30-year plan to adapt our stormwater assets to climate change and keep them in good repair was presented to Council in July 2023.

In June 2023, Environment Canada put Oakville under a Special Air Quality Statement due to smoke plumes from massive forest fires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario. To help protect residents, the town modified services and programs whenever air pollution levels got too high. This included limiting recreational swims at Lions Pool and allowing groups who had booked sports fields to cancel or reschedule their events without penalty.

Along with communicating about coyote safety through the year, the town held an annual Coyote Information Session in March 2023 to provide residents with a better understanding of the coyotes that live in our community. Experts offered tips on how to respond to coyote sightings and reduce coyote incidents. During the online event, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and got practical advice about discouraging coyotes from entering their property, keeping pets safe, and more. 

Council approved the 2023 Budget with a final tax rate increase of just 3.84 per cent, the lowest increase of all surrounding municipalities and below the rate of inflation. The decision was shaped by public feedback provided to Council Members and delegations at Budget Committee meetings, which revealed affordability was top of mind for many residents following significant increases in the cost of living. 

The 2023 budget put an emphasis on strengthening the town’s infrastructure, which included multi-million-dollar investments in transit facilities, electric transit vehicles, a new fire station and construction of the community centre and library at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. 

In July 2023, Town Council approved a new strategic plan and action plan to guide decisions and budgets over the next four years, focused on the vision of a vibrant and livable community for all. 

The plans were developed through broad engagement with community groups, organizations, and individuals, reflecting what matters most to Oakville, now and into the future. More than 3,000 people participated in phone and online surveys, open houses, interviews and other engagement opportunities. We also drew on community profile data and on municipal best practices from around the world.

By developing Corporate Asset Management Plans in accordance with Ontario Regulation 588/17, Oakville continued to strengthen its understanding of the town’s infrastructure and how it supports the range of municipal services that enable quality of life for residents, businesses and other stakeholders. Work was completed throughout 2023 to prepare Part B of the Corporate Asset Management Plan – Part B, which includes information on the $1.2 billion in facilities, parks, fleet, equipment and information technology assets owned by the town. The document will be presented to Council in 2024. 

Redesigning oakville.ca

In 2023, The Town of Oakville officially launched a newly designed website that makes it easier for residents to access programs and services. For example, a new “In My Neighbourhood” section highlights ward-specific information, allowing residents to see who their local councillors are, find events in their area and explore an interactive map showing key town facilities, parks and trails. A significantly enhanced search function, a more readable font, stronger colour contrast and more intuitive navigation improve accessibility and enhance the user experience.

The town also refreshed websites for the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Oakville Transit and Invest Oakville, making them easier to navigate and accessible on any mobile device. All these upgrades are part of the Digital Oakville Plan to make Oakville the most connected community in the GTA.

Making it easier to report a problem

New features to our online Report a Problem tool make it simpler than ever to alert the town to potholes, noise concerns, on-street parking violations and other issues. For example, a keyword search helps users find the correct service request to submit. The site also offers a general inquiry option and provides more frequent status updates to residents. 

In fall 2023, the Town of Oakville ratified new four-year collective agreements with two major unions: Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1329, which represents more than 350 inside workers, and CUPE Local 136, which represents more than 285 outside workers. The new agreements respect taxpayers and ensure the town can deliver reliable, high-quality service to our community.

• Completing a Housing Plan Review to support efforts to address the housing crisis
• Midtown, Uptown, and Neyagawa Urban Core Growth Area Reviews underway
• Wrapping up construction of North Park, giving residents access to two additional lit sports fields, a new cricket pitch, a children’s playground and more
• Advancing plans for the Downtown Cultural Hub initiative, including a new performing arts centre, waterfront park, galleries, parking opportunities and more
• Completing the town’s Five-Year Economic Development Plan

• Conducting our biennial Community Satisfaction Survey
• Completing our Parks, Recreation and Library Master Plan
• Implementing our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Multi-year Plan
• Implementation of a snow windrow removal program for 1,100 residents with physical disabilities or medical conditions  

• Developing and implementing new corporate climate resiliency plans, helping further reduce the carbon footprint of town facilities
• Promoting home energy retrofits and supporting energy-efficiency opportunities for renovations and new builds

• Expanding and enhancing online services and tools to deliver a seamless experience for residents and local businesses
• Standardizing tools and processes to reduce costs